Road cycling champion Durbridge has fall

REIGNING Australian national road cycling time trial champion Luke Durbridge has
escaped serious injury in a fall in Ballarat on the eve of his title
defence.

Durbridge took a tumble when hit a pot hole in Sturt Street in
Ballarat this afternoon.

The 21-year-old told The Courier that
he was thrown over his handlebars, but was "okay".

Durbridge and Orica
GreenEDGE teammate Michael Matthews were riding east back to their accommodation
after a photographic shoot with The Courier at the Arch of
Victory.

Durbridge initially wrote on twitter: "Hit an epic hole in the
ground then down on my arse. Puncture and broken saddle and some
skin."

Durbridge is the favourite to go back-to-back in the
time-trial.

Matthews is making his debut for GreenEDGE.

The Mars Cycling
Australia National Road Championships begin tomorrow with time trials, which
start and finish in Wendouree Parade next to Lake Wendouree, and and take in an
out-and-back circuit on the Avenue of Honour to Burrumbeet.